Tube-making machine



Sept. 3, E935.

K. E. GARLJNG TUBE MAKING MACHINE Filed July l2, 19315 4 Sheets-Sheet l JN VEA/7,012 Earl E. 'affhrz/g @ATTO/NE Y Sp 3, 935 K. E. GARLING 2,013,303

TUBE MAKING MACHINE Filed July l2, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATT'RNEY Set 3 i935 K. E. GARLING l 2,013,303

TUBE MAKING MACHINE Filed July l2, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 RNEY N W 'WTO Spt. 3, 1935. K E, GARLING TUBE MAKING MACHINE Filed July 12, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR Kczr E. Garling @MAW "TATTORNEY Patented Sept. 3, 1935 nri" OFICE 2,013,303 TUBE-MAKEN G MACHINE Karl E. Garling, Newark, N.

J., assignor to Soda Straw Manufacturing Corporation, Newark, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application July 12, 1933, Serial No. 680,032 27 Claims. (Cl. 164-61) This invention relates to improvements in tubemaking machines and finds as one particular utility, the manufacture of soda straws.

Among the principal objects which the invention has in view are:-To provide an improved machine for the manufacture of tubes, such as soda straws; to simplify the mechanism and operation over the constructions and procedures of present-day machines; to avoid delays resulting from inadvertent unwinding of the tube or straw adjacent the cutter; to lead the tube or straw to the cutter with minimum tendency to untwist; to steady the straw while being out; to permit the straw to be moved by the knife in the direction of rotation of the knife while being cut; to utilize the moment of force of the knife translating the straw in the direction of movement of the knife to also carry the straw into the knife for severing purposes; to provide for proper formation of the straw preparatory to cutting the same; to obtain a compound movement of the straw translating mechanism; to reduce the number and complexity of operating parts; to secure simplicity of construction commensurate with efficiency and acceptable engineering; and to obtain other advantages and results as may be brought out in the following description.

Drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan of a machine constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is an elevation of the cut-,off mech-V anism partially in section as upon line 2 2 of Figure 3 is a sectional elevation at right angles of Fig. 2, partially in section as upon line 3 3 of Fig. l;

Figure 4 is an end elevation looking in the opposite direction from that of Fig. 3;

Figure 5 is an elevation similar to that of Fig. 4 showing the straw guide in a position advancing the straw toward the cutter;

Figure 6 is a similar view showing the straw just after it has been out;

Figure 7 is a longitudinal sectional View of the straw guide showing the same tilted in the position where the straw is being cut as in Fig. 6; and

Figure 8 is an end view of a modified construction of cut-off" mechanism utilizing the sameV straw guide and movement in association with a pair of knives and a modified construction of straw support associated with the knives.

Description: In the specific embodiment of the invention illustrated in said drawings, and referring iniupon which is mounted a cam Hl for reciprocat- 1o ing purposes and a cam l5 for dipping the straw into t. e knife as will be described in greater detail hereinafter.

Parallel to the drive shaft Il., between it and the front of the machine, is carried mandrel It upon which the strips of paper of which the straw is manufactured are continuously wound. This operation is old and well known in the art and is very commonly carried out by means a winding 15 of an endless belt I'i twisted around the mandrel 20 and carried by horizontally disposed pulleys I8, i8. The strips of paper are ordinarily obtained in rolls and these rolls carried by a bracket I9 so as to be fed to the mandrel at an angle opposite to the angle of the endless belt, with one 2 of the strips of paper in contact with a glue drum 2S, the lower part of which dipsinto a glue pot 2i. The drum 2t, is driven at a predetermined rate with respect to the endless belt I7, preferably having a positive drive (not shown) from thedrive shaft Il. The belt pulley I8 next the drive shaft is likewise positively driven, so that both pulleys and the glue drum are positively actuated at the proper speed so as not to place any undesired strain upon either the 35 endless belt or upon the strips of paper of which the straw or tube is being made.

By virtue of the endless belt li, the strips of paper are formed into a spiral tube and forced continuously from the end of the mandrel to 40 the cutting mechanism for severing the formed tube into substantially equal lengths. It is in this cutting mechanism that the present invention inheres more particularly, and will now be described inV greater detail, reference being had 451 to all of the gures of the drawings.

As the paper strips are formed into a spiral tube, such as indicated at 2,2, and forced from the end of the mandrel, said tube, which for the sake of clarity will be hereinafter referred to as 5 the straw, enters into the receiving end of a guide 23, here shown as a tube with an internal diameter slightly greater than the outside diameter of the straw so as to avoid any unnecessary frictional contact between the straw and the said 5 tube or guide 23. The end of this tube. 23 is pivotally mounted so that the opposite end may be swung with a compound movement. For accomplishing this purpose, the pivotal mounting is here shown as of a universal type. thereby enabling the tube to swing as required either up or down or back or forth or in combination of these movements. In carrying out this feature, a flange 2t is carried by the tube 23 at its pivoted end, this flange being positioned in a socket 25 within a bracket 25 and confined loosely withn in that socket by face plates 2l, 2l secured to the bracket. Likewise, these face plates 2l have holes therein for the tube 23, said holes being of greater diameter than the tube, thus enabling the tube and flange to wabble to the desired extent. It will be observed by utilizing the structure so far described, that the end of the tube 23 toward the mandrel retains substantially a fixed relation with respect to the mandrel and consequently the straw will feed from the mandrel to the guide with minimum distortion and will therefore have little if any tendency to untwist.

The forward or delivery end of tube 2li, that is, the end furthest away from the mandrel has means connected therewith for both dipping the straw into engagement with a knife 22S and for moving the straw in the direction of rotary movement of the knife while the straw dips into the knife. As a means for accomplishing this cornu pound movement, I employ in association with previously mentioned cam l5, an arm Z9 with. a roller 39 thereon engaging the cam surface such that the arm is periodically swung. This arm ii is arranged to swing a connected arm 3l shown projecting toward the front of the machine with its forward end overlying the path of the straw. In this forward end of arm 3l is rotatably mounted a rocker shaft 32 which extends substantially parallel to the straw thereunder. It will be observed that as the arm 3l swings up or down, said rocker shaft 32 is likewise moved bodily in a corresponding direction. This rocker shaft 32 extends from arm 3l in a general direction toward the mandrehand at its receiving end toward the mandrel is above and in plan, overlaps the outer end of the tube or guide 23. A connection is made at these overlapping ends between the rocker shaft32 and the tube guide 23 by a link 33 transverse to both of those parts and securely aixed at least with respect to the rocker ,haft It will accordingly be observed that as arm 3l swings downwardly rocker shaft 32 is bodily idepressed, thereby carrying link 33 downward and as a result, swings or Vdips the forward end of tube or guide 23 downwardly. Lost motion in the guide is overcome by a tension spring 33 hooked at its upper end on said guide and secured at its lower end in suitable manner to bracket 2li.

Simultaneousiy with the dipping operation thus obtained for the forward end of tube guide 23, said guide is also swung laterally. For carrying out this feature, I have shown a spur gear 3 mounted upon rocker shaft 32 at the end thereof next to arm 3l and V.secured to the shaft as by a set screw 35 so that any rotation of the gear will obtain a corresponding rotation of the rocker shaft. The spur gear is in *nesh with a vertically disposed rack 38 carried by a bracket 3i, the lower end of which is secured to the base iii of the machine. In passing, it may be observed that this bracket 3l preferably is sufficiently resilient to enable the rack to be resiliently pressed toward the gear and thereby maintain a positive meshing as well as to decrease noise and avoid unnecessary play between the rack and gear and secure precision in the movement of the shaft 32. It will be observed that as arm 3l depresses, gear 3d rides down rack 3% and thus obtains a partial rotation of shaft 32 while said shaft is being bodily depressed. As a result, link 33 is swung toward the front of the machine and imparts a corresponding downward and forward movement of the tubular straw guide 23. Knife 28 is rotated through the agency of a motor 38 and belt 39 in a direction such that the top part of the blade is moving in the same general direction as the combined dipping and forward movement of the straw guide; that is to say, the upper part of the knife has a rotary movement toward the front of the machine.

The knife 2S is mounted to reciprocate back and forth in synchronized relationship to the dipping of the straw guide so that the straw will be dipped into the blade at a time when the straw and knife are moving in the same direction and at substantially the same rate, it being noted that the delivery end of the guide 23 is spaced from the path of the knife to provide between the tube and the knife an exten-ded gap to insure the Veasy flexing of the straw between the tube and the cutter, and also to facilitate access to the thus exposed portion of the straw as occasion may require. As here shown, the knife is mounted upon a spindle it carried by a bearing di formed as part of a carriage l2 which has rods i3 parallel to the spindle Llil in turn mounted in bearings iii and d5, thereby guiding and supporting the carriage. If so desired, additional tracks i6 may be provided to partially support the carriage and Yrelieve the rods i3 of ythe downward thrust occurring during operation. From one side of the carriage, that is, toward the back of the machine, is mounted a suitable roller Gl which rides within the groove of reciprocating cam lll.

Associated with the knife 2S and mounted to reciprocate therewith, is a bifurcated platen or cutting table t9, so that part of the cutting table is at one side of the knife and part of it is at the other side of the knife. According to the present disclosure I have shown this bifurcated platen a9 sloping at an angle of substantially twenty-five (25) degrees to the horizontal and having a lip or end portion E3 of itself directed toward the rear of the machine sloping at substantially forty-ve (45) degrees to the hori zontal, this latter portion for convenience being referred to as the lip of the table. The slope of this lip 5) is directed downwardly forward, faces toward the rear of the machine and is shown co-extensive with that part of the platen above the edge of the knife. In operation, the straw is dipped and swung forwardly to substantially maintain it in contact with this lip portion EQ of the platen during the presentation of the straw to the knife for severing purposes. The knife and lip portion Bil of the platen form a converging wedge shape, with the knife rotating in a direction toward the apex of the wedge shape. Consequently, the straw, which travels along one face of the wedge and rotates with peripheral Contact in substantially the direction of movement of the periphery of the knife is enn gaged by the knife and cut with more certainty and less distortion than if the movement of the straw were at a right angle to the direction of movement of the cutting edge. rIhe tendency of the knife to draw the straw along with it is utilized to maintain the straw against the platen, and I have found it of particular utility to utilize the two angles above mentioned for the strawengaging face of theplaten. This structure enables the; straw to ride on the cutting edge of the according to the keenness of theV knife, as

long as necessary to obtain entry of the cutting edge,` and avoid any crushing of the straw onto the knife, which, when the knife has become dulled, injures the straw. Dipping of the tube guide merely presents the straw to the knife but does not enforce cutting or passage of the straw further than the cutting edge, particularly since the tube guide isspaced from the knife consid-- erably more than the diameter of the straw so that the Straw may flex rather than crush. The rotation of the straw tends, during the depressed period, to roll the straw upon the platen toward the knife, and maintaining a constant presentation of the straw to the cutting edge until the straw is-severed. Consequently, by the present invention, aknife may be retained in use for a much longer period than has heretofore been possible before its removal to sharpen is` necessary.

While it is apparently not a prerequisite to the usual functioning of the machine, nevertheless, it appears desirable to provide a chield 5l below the platen 49 and spaced sufliciently therefrom so that the strati/may pass between the shield and platen while the straw is being severed. This shield will serve to steady the straw should. occasion require and prevent undue sagging should the straw show such a tendency. It may furthermore be noted that the structure of platen has a great advantage in the operation of the machine and will be especially appreciated by the operator at times when the straw unwinds. There are occasions when the straw unwinds and the machine has to be stopped to start the straw properly. This unwinding most frequently occurs. in the gap between the guide and the knife. By using an open platen such as alcove described, the unwound strips are readily removed and the straw started again over the platen without any difficulty.

My invention is not to be understood as confined tothe use of a single knife, but if so desired, Ythe straw may be severed by a pair of overlapping knives with the dipping and' swinging of the straw obtaining a presentation of the straw to the knives at the point where they begin toY overlap. Such a structure is indicated in Fig.. 8 wherein a pair of rotary blades or knives 52, 52 are provided with the overlapping portion thereof. in atwise engagement. A platen 53 is provided to support the straw as may be found necessary, the platen in this instance being shown with curved surfaces following the contour of the blades for such part thereof as necessary for supporting the straw during its presentation to the blades. A straw guide 23 similar to the one already described will dip and swing the straw 22 into the converging knives as will be readily understood.

Obviously other detail changes and. modifications. may be made in the construction and use of my improved cut-olf mechanism without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention, and I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact construction shown or described except as set forth in the following claims when construedl in the light of the prior art.

I claim:

l. A cut-off mechanism comprising in combination with means for feeding a straw-continuously, a knife having. a cutting edge moving transversely to the path of thestraw, and means for moving the straw into the knife with a cornponent of movement in the direction of the movement of the knife edge where engaged by the straw.

2. A cut-olf mechanism comprising in combnation with means for feeding a straw continuously, a knife having a cutting edge moving transversely to the path of the straw, means for moving the straw into the knife with a component of movement in the direction of the movement of the knife edge where engaged by the straw, and a platen adjacent the knife for Steadying the straw while being cut.

3. A cut-off mechanism comprising in combination with means for feeding a straw continuously a knife, having a cutting edge moving transversely to the path of the straw, means for moving the straw into the knife with a component of movement in the direction of the movement of the knife edge where engaged by the straw, and a platen adjacent the knife sloping in the direction of movement of the knife for steadying the strawv while being cut.

4. A cut-off mechanism comp-rising in combination with means for feeding a straw continuously, a knife having` a cutting edge moving transversely to the path of the straw, means for moving the straw into the knife with a component of movement in the direction of the movement of theknife edge where engaged by the straw, and a platen adjacent the knife, said platen having a changing slope in the direction of movement of the knife for steadying the straw while being cut.

5. A cut-01T mechanism comprising in combination with means for feeding a straw continuously, a knife having a cutting edge moving transversely to the path of the straw, means for moving the straw into the knife with a component of movement in the direction of the movement of theA knife edge where engaged by the straw, and .a platen adjacent the knife, said platen providing a lip portion with a slope in the direction of movement of the knife at an acute angle and a body portion with a slope at a more acute angle for steadying the straw while being out.

6. A out-off mechanism comprising in combination with means for feeding a straw continuously, a knife having a cutting edge moving transversely to the path of the straw, means for moving the straw into the knife with a component of movement in the direction of the movement of the knife edge where engaged by the straw, and a platen adjacent the knife, said platen providing a lip portion with a slope in the direction of movement of the knife at an acute angle and a body portion with a slope at a more acute angle for steadying the straw while being cut` said angles changing at substantially the point of intersection of the knife edge with the platen.

7. A cut-off mechanism comprising in combination with means for feeding a straw continuously, a knife having a. cutting edge moving transversely to the path of the straw, and a platen having a fiat straw-engaging face for supporting the straw while being cut.

8. A cut-olf mechanism comprising in combination with means for feeding a straw continuously, a knife having a cutting edge moving transversely to the path of the straw, and a platen having a flat straw-engaging face sloping with respect to the cutting edge for supporting the straw while being cut.

9. A cut-off mechanism comprising in combination with means for feeding a straw continuously, a knife having a cutting edge moving transversely to the path of the straw, and a platen having at flat straw-engaging face sloping with respect to the cutting edge and partly upon opposite sides of the knife for supporting the straw while being cut.

l0. A cut-off mechanism comprising in combination with means for feeding a straw continuously, a reciprocating carriage, a knife mounted upon said carriage to reciprocate therewith, and a platen rigidly supported by said carriage adjacent the knife for reciprocating simultaneously with said knife and carriage and for supporting the straw against lateral movement in one direction and permitting lateral movement of the straw with respect to the platen in another direction while the straw is being cut. Y

11. A cut-off mechanism comprising in combination with means for feeding a straw continuously, a knife, and means having straw receiving and delivery ends both interposed between the feeding means and said knife for dipping the straw at predetermined intervals, the delivery end of said interposed means being offset from the plane of the knife a distance greater than the amplitude of dipping of said delivery end thereby permitting the straw to assume a curvature between said delivery end and the knife.

12. A cut-off mechanism comprising in combination with means for feeding a straw continuously, a knife having a cutting edge moving transversely to the path of the straw, and means for dipping the straw into the knife, said means comprising a rocker-shaft and means for effecting a lateral transition and simultaneous rotation of said shaft.

13. A cut-off mechanism comprising in combination with means for feeding a straw continuously, a knife having a cutting edge moving transversely to the path of the straw, and means for dipping the straw into the knife, said means comprising a rocker-shaft and means for eifecting a lateral transition and simultaneous rotation of said shaft and a straw guide ofi-set from said shaft and connected therewith so as to be both swung and dipped.

14. A cut-off mechanism comprising in combination with means for feeding a straw continuously, a knife having a cutting edge moving transverse to the path of the straw, a cam operated lever, a shaft rotatably carried by said lever, a pinion on said shaft and a rack in mesh with said pinion whereby swinging the arm obtains a body transition of the shaft and a simultaneous rotation thereof.

15. A cut-oi mechanism comprising in combination with means for feeding a straw continuously, a knife having a cutting edge moving transverse to the path of the straw, a cam operated lever, a shaft rotatably carried by said lever, a pinion on said shaft and a rack in mesh with said pinion and resiliently pressing toward the pinion whereby swinging the arm obtains a body transition of the shaft and a simultaneous rotation thereof.

16. A cut-off mechanism comprising in combination with means for feeding a straw continuously, a reciprocating carriage, a knife mounted upon said carriage to reciprocate therewith, means supported independently of said carriage for guiding and dipping the straw at predeterand a platen supported by and in fixed relation to said carriage adjacent the knife for reciprocating simultaneously with said knife and carriage and for supporting the straw while the straw is being cut.

18. A cut-off mechanism comprising in combination with means for Vfeeding a straw continj uously, a reciprocating carriage, a knife mounted upon said carriage to reciprocate therewith, and an open platen upon which the straw may move laterally a distance greater than the diameter of the straw, said platen supporting the straw While the straw is being cut.

19. A cut-off mechanism comprising in combination with means for feeding a straw continuously, a reciprocating carriage, a knife mounted upon said carriage to reciprocate therewith, and an open platen upon which the straw may move laterally a distance greater than the diameter of the straw, said platen having a position adjacent to the knife while the straw is being cut for supporting the straw during the cutting thereof.

20. A cut-off mechanismcomprising in combination with means for feeding a straw continuously, a reciprocating carriage, a knife mounted upon said carriage to reciprocate therewith, and an open platen upon which the straw may move laterally a distance greater than the diameter of the straw, said platen being supported by said carriage adjacent the knife for reciprocating simultaneously with said knife and carriage and for supporting the straw while the straw is being cut.

21. A cut-off mechanism comprising in combination with means for feeding a straw continuously, a reciprocating carriage, a knife mounted upon said carriage tc reciprocate therewith, and an open platen upon which the straw may move laterally a distance greater than the` diameter of the straw, said platen being supported by and in fixed relation to said carriage adjacent the knife for reciprocating simultaneously with said knife and carriage and for supporting the straw while the straw is being cut.

22. A cut-off mechanism comprising in combination with means for feeding a tube continuously, a rotating cutter, a tubular tube guide through which said tube passes, said tube guide having a discharge end relatively far from the cutter for affording freedom of the formed tube to flex at will more than its own diameter under inuence of contact with the cutter pulling the tube inwardly of the cutting edge, and means dipping the tubular tube guide to substantially the level of the edge of the cutter to engage the tube with the cutting edge and enabling the tube to be drawn inwardly by the cutter and enabling the cutting to be effected only at the rate at which the cutter pulls the tube inwardly of the cutting edge.

23. A cut-off mechanism comprising in combination with means for feeding a tube continuously, a rotating cutter, said tube being held can with relative freedom with respect to its lateral movement where crossing the cutter such that the tube may deect at will more than its own diameter, and means for periodically engaging the tube with the edge of the cutter whereby the cutter will function to deect the tube from its otherwise normal path and sever the tube.

24. A cut-off mechanism comprising in combination with means for rotatably feeding a tube continuously, a rotating cutter the cutting edge of which toward the tube moves in the same direction as the side of the tube toward the cutter, and means for periodically engaging the tube with the edge of the cutter whereby the tube will tend to roll in the direction of movement of the engaged portion of the cutter and the cutter will function to cooperate with the rolling of the tube to draw the same into the cutter and sever the tube.

25. A cut-off mechanism comprising in combination with means for rotatably feeding a tube continuously, a rotating cutter the cutting edge of which toward the tube moves in the same direction as the side of the tube toward the cutter, a platen adjacent the cutter and tube sloping in the direction of movement of the cutter enabling the tube to roll thereon in the direction of its r0- tation and thereby tend to feed the tube to the cutter.

26. A cut-oil.c mechanism comprising in cornbination with means for rotatably feeding a tube continuously, a rotating cutter the cutting edge of which toward the tube moves in the same direction as the side of the tube toward the cutter, a platen adjacent the cutter and tube sloping 5 in the direction of movement of the cutter enabling the tube to roll thereon in the direction of its rotation and thereby tend to feed the tube to the cutter, and means for periodically engaging the tube with the edge of the cutter whereby the tube will tend to roll in the direction of movement of the engaged portion of the cutter and the cutter will function to cooperate with the rolling of the tube to draw the same into the cutter and sever the tube.

27. A cut-off mechanism comprising in combination with means for rotatably feeding a tube continuously, a rotating cutter the cutting edge of which toward the tube moves in the same direction as the side of the tube toward the cutter, and means for periodically engaging the tube with the edge of the cutter whereby the tube will tend to roll in the direction of movement of the engaged portion of the cutter and the cutter will function to cooperate with the rolling of the tube to draw the same into the cutter and sever the tube, and a platen providing one portion thereof engaged by the tube as the tube first engages the cutter and a second portion engaged by the tube as the cutter substantially severs the tube, the rst said portion enforcing a greater movement on the tube radially of the cutter than the second portion and the second portion permitting a greater relative movement of the tube in the direction of movement of the cutter than the first said portion whereby the lateral deflection of the tube is speeded for the final severing thereof,

KARL E. GARLIN G. 

